Draft and buffer gear



Dec. 14, 1937. G. A.JOHNSON DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Filed June 2, 1933 Inventor I Jbhnson 9 1r y 7 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Delaware Application June 2, 1933, Serial No. 673,983

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in draft and buffer gears especially adapted for mine cars. One object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient combined draft and buffer gear for mine cars, wherein means is employed for absorbing shocks and this means is so arranged as to receive the actuating force directly from a bufiing head against which the shock absorbing means is compressed in draft through lever mechanism connected to the usual coupling means of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a gear of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, lever means so arranged and designed that the shock absorbing means is compressed in draft to substantially the same extent it is compressed in buff.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of one end of a mine car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a part plan view and part horizontal sectional view of Figure 1, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. AndFigure 4 is a part side elevational view and part vertical sectional view of Figure 1, looking toward the left in said figure, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, l0 indicates the end sill member of a mine car, which carries my improved draft and buffer gear.

My improved gear comprises broadly a support A; a bufling head B; a draft yoke C; a lever D for transmitting the draft forces from the yoke C to the shock absorbing means of the gear; a pair of shock absorbing springs E-E cushioning both the draft and buffing forces; and a pair of bumng springs F-F'.

The support A, which is preferably a casting, forms a housing for the other parts of the gear. The support A may be in the form of a separate member attached to the end sill of the car, or may be formed as a part of the end sill casting ID, as illustrated in the drawing. The support 50 A has a vertical rear wall H which, as shown, forms a continuation of the casting Ill. The wall I l is provided with forwardly projecting, spaced side Walls l2-l2, a horizontal bottom wall l3, and a top wall 14. At the bottom portion of the support A, the side walls l2-l2 are outwardly offset with respect to the upper sections of said walls, as clearly shown in Figure 1, thereby providing intermediate horizontal wall sections l5-l5. The lower portions of the side walls l2-l2, the bottom wall I3, and the wall sections 'I5-l 5 project forwardly beyond the upper sections of the side walls l2-I2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The bottom wall H) of the support A is reduced in thickness between its ends, thereby presenting relatively thickened portions Iii-l6 at opposite sides of the support A. The thickened portions Iii-l6 present top fiat guide surfaces for slidingly supporting the buffing head B. The top wall M of the support A has a downturned front section I! forming a relatively short front wall which is rounded at the inner lower corner, as indicated at l8 in Figures 3 and 4. Beyond the rounded section IS, the wall l'l projects outwardly of the upper sections of the side walls l2-l2, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and '4. The front wall section H, the top wall l4, and the upper end portion of the rear wall ll together define a pocket or bearing seat l9 for the upper end of the lever D.

The bumng head B is in the form of a casting having a vertical front wall 20, spaced vertical side walls 2I-2l, and spaced top and bottom walls 22-22. The outer surface of the wall is rounded, as shown in Figure 2, and presents a buffing surface which directly cooperates with the bufling head of the adjacent car. The head B'has the inner end thereof telescoped within the housing between the bottom wall l3 and the wall sections I5-l5. The head B is thus mounted for inward sliding movement on the support A.

The draft yoke C comprises top and bottom arms 23 and 24 connected at their rear ends by vertically disposed, laterally spaced webs 25-25. At the rear end, the yoke C is cut away, as indicated at 26, so that clearance is provided for upward tilting of theyoke under certain operating conditions. At opposite sides, the yoke is provided with trunnions 21-27, which serve to connect the yoke to the lever D. As most clearly shown in Figure 3, the yoke C is directly supported on the top wall 22 of the buffer head B and has sliding contact therewith. A coupling pin 28, which extends through vertically aligned slots 29-29 in the top and bottom arms 23 and 24 of the yoke and through vertically aligned slots 30-30 in the top and bottom walls 22-22 of the buffing head B, serves as a connection between the usual coupling link and the yoke 0, whereby the draft forces are transmitted to the ar.

the lever D has the side arms 3333 thereof provided with interior bearing seats 34-34, which accommodate the trunnions 2121 at opposite sides of the yoke C. The upper end of the lever D is rounded, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, so as to have pivotal movement in the pocket 59 of the support A. The upper end section 32 of the lever has a flat front face, which 7 has rocking engagement with the wall section II of the pocket is of the support A. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bearing seats 3 !34 of the arms 33--33 of the lever D open rearwardly'so as to permit easy assembling of the yoke C and lever D by entering the trunnions 21-21 through said openings of the seats 34 -34. The lever D is directly supported on the buffer head B, the arms 33 33 of the lever being provided with forwardly projecting flanges 35-35, which bear directly on the top wall 22 of the head B. The inner end section of theyoke C rests directly on the follower member 3| of the lever D and is supported thereby, as clearly indicated in Figure 3.

The shock absorbing springs E-E 'are arranged centrally of the mechanism and are interposed between the front wall 20 of the buffer head B and the rear wall of the follower member'3l of the lever D and bear directly on these walls.

The pair of buffer springs F-F are disposed at opposite sides of the springs E-E and bear at their front ends on the front wall 20 of the buffer head B and at their rear ends directly on the rear wall 5 l of the support A. Outward movementof the bufling head B is limited by stop pins or'bolts Lit-36 extending through aligned slots 3'l-31 in the top and bottom walls 22-22 of the buffer head B and aligned openings in the bottom wall 53 and the intermediate wall sections !5--l5 of the support A.

The operation of my improved draft and buffer gear is as follows: Upon a pulling action being applied to the yoke C through the coupling pin 28, the yoke is moved outwardly away from the end of the car, thereby rocking the lever about its upper end in the pocket is of the support A.

'Ihe bottom end of the lever D is thus pulled forwardly, compressing the springs EE against the buffing head B, which at this time is held stationary by the stop pins 3636. If the pull of the draft member is at an angle in an upward direction, the yoke will readily accommodate itself to such displacement through the clearance provided by cutting away the upper section of the rear end of the yoke, as hereinbefore pointed out. During its swinging movement, the lever D is directly supported on the buffing head B and rocks about its pivoted upper end on the walls [4 and l1 and the rounded section l8 of the wall l1, thereby providing a smooth easy action during the operation of the device.

Upon a buffing force being applied to the head both pairs of springs E--E and FF Will be compressed. The springs E-E are compressed against the follower member 3| of the leverD.

ifications that come within the scope of the 10 claims appended hereto.

I claim: 1. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a buffer head at the end of the car slidingly supported for movement in- 15 wardly toward said end of the car; of a shock absorbing means opposing inward movement of said head; a draft member movable away from the cane lever movably supported on said buffing head, said lever being pivotally supported at its 20 upper end and having the lower end thereof engaging the shock absorbing means to compress the same in draft; and means operatively connecting the draft member to the lever.

2. In combined draft and buffer gear forcars,

the combination with a buffer head at the end of the car slidingly supported for movement inwardly toward said end of the car; of a shock absorbing means opposing inward movement of said head; a draft member movable away from the car; and a pivoted lever swingable about its upper end and having its lower end engaging the shock absorbing means to compress the same in draft, said lever being movably supported on the buffing head and connected between its ends to the draft member.

3. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a buffer head at the end of the car supported for movement inwardly toward the car; of shock absorbing means oppos ing inward movement of said head; an upright swinging lever; means pivotally supporting said lever at one end and holding the same against upward displacement, said lever having the opposite end portion thereof engaging the shock absorbing means to compress the same during outward movement of the lever in draft; fixed abutment means for holding said last named end portion of the lever against inward mdvement during a buffing action of the gear; and

, a draft member pivotally connected to the leve between the ends of the latter. Y

4. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a buffer head at the 'end of the car supported for movement inward' ly toward said end; of shock absorbing means opposing inward movement of said head; an upright lever having abutment means at its lower end engaging said shock absorbing means; a bearing,

member on which the upper end of said lever is' against upward displacement; and a draft member pivotally connected to the'lever at a point pivoted, said bearing member holding the lever between the pivoted upper end and the abut- 5 ment means thereof;

5. In a combined draft and buifer gear for cars, the combination with a support at the end of the car; of a buffer head slidable inwardly on said support; shock absorbing means yieldbuffer head; and a draft member-pivotally.con-

nected to the lever, said lever having rocking engagement at its upper end with said support.

6. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a supporting member on the end of the car; of a buffer head slidable inwardly on said member; a lever in rocking bearing engagement at its upper end with said member, said lever having follower means at its lower end; means on said lever above said follower means movably supporting the lever on the buffer head; shock absorbing means interposed between and bearing on the buffer head and follower means; and a draft member slidable on the buffer head, said draft member being pivoted to the lever between the upper end of the lever and the follower means thereof.

7. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a supporting casting at the end of the car, said casting having a vertically disposed rear wall; of a downwardly opening bearing pocket at the top end of said casting, said pocket having a top wall and a front wall, the lower portion of the front wall thereof being rounded; a buffer head slidable inwardly on said casting; a draft member above said head; a lever supported on the head having its upper end extending into said bearing pocket and normally engaging the top and front walls of said pocket; follower means at the lower end of said lever, said follower means normally bearing on the vertical wall of the casting; shock absorbing means interposed between the lever and the buffer head; and means between the ends ,of the lever pivotally connecting the same to the draft member.

8. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a supporting casting at the end of the car, said casting having a downwardly facing bearing pocket at the top thereof; of a buffer head slidingly supported on the casting; a draft member above said head; a lever movably supported on said head and having its upper end loosely engaged within said pocket for rocking movement and held against upward displacement by engagement with a wall of said pocket; follower means on the lower end of the lever; shock absorbing means interposed between and bearing on the follower means and buffer head; and means between the ends of the lever pivotally connecting the draft member to the lever.

9. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a supporting housing at the end of the car, said housing having horizontal guide means at the bottom and a bearing pocket at the top; of a buffer head slidingly supported on said guide means; a lever movably supported on said head, said lever having its upper end swiveled in said pocket and held against upward displacement by engagement with a wall of said pocket; a draft member pivotally connected to the lever below said swiveled end; follower means on the lever below said pivotal connection with the draft member; and shock absorbing means interposed between and bearing on said follower means and bufier head.

10. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a supporting housing at the end of the car, said housing having a horizontal guideway at the bottom and a pocket at the top; of a buffer head slidingly supported in said guideway; a draft member slidingly supported on the buffer head; an upright lever having follower means at its lower end and a flange above said follower means slidingly supporting the lever on the buffer head, the upper end of said lever extending into said pocket and having pivotal movement therein; means be tween the ends of the lever pivotally connecting the same to the draft member; and shock absorbing means yieldingly opposing relative movement of the buffer head and follower means of the lever.

11. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support fixed to the end of the car; of a buffing head movable inwardly on said support; an upright lever pivoted at one end to swing on said support, said pivoted end having shouldered engagement with the support to hold said lever against upward displacement; cushioning means embraced between the other end of said lever and said buffing head, said cushioning means being compressed between said lever and buffing head upon relative movement of said lever and head; and a pulling element connected to said lever between the ends of the latter.

12. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support fixed to the end of the car, said support having a shoulder thereon provided with a downwardly facing bearing surface; of a buffing head movable on said support in a direction lengthwise of the car; an upright lever having the upper extremity thereof rounded and bearing on said surface; stop means on said support against which the lever normally bears to hold said lever against movement toward said end of the car; a pulling element connected to the lever between the ends of the latter to swing the lower end of said lever away from the end of the car; and cushioning means embraced between said last named end of the lever and the buifing head, said cushioning means bearing at opposite ends respectively on the inner side of the buffing head and the forward side of said last named end of the lever.

13. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support on the end of the car; of a buffer head slidingly mounted on said support; shock absorbing means yieldingly opposing movement of said head; a draft member; an upright lever swiveled between its ends to the draft member for transmitting the draft force from the draft member to the shock absorbing means; means for holding said lever against upward displacement, comprising a bearing member against which the upper end of the lever bears and on which said lever is pivoted, said lever at a point below said swiveled connection engaging with the shock absorbing means; and a fixed stop.means on the car engaged by said lever for holding the latter against inward movement during a buffing action of the gear.

14. In a combined draft and buffer gear for cars, the combination with a support at the end of the car; of a buffer head movably mounted on said support, said head being movable inwardly toward the car in buff; stop means for holding said head against outward movement in draft an upright lever swingable about its upper end; a draft member pivotally connected to the lever below the upper end thereof; and shock absorbing means interposed between the buffer head and the lever and engaging the lever at a point below the pivotal connection thereof with the draft member.

GEORGE A. JOHNSON. 

